Of Cabbages and Kales

Whilst I was thinking about what to write about the winding down of the gardening season - I had a wander round the 'net to see how Brassicas are represented in art - as you do - and found some wonderful paintings of Cabbages which I though I would share with you.

Green Cabbage - oil on linen
by
Jean Christofori Howton




Watercolour painting of Three Red Cabbages
by
Marilyn Z. Kahn

 

Ornamental Cabbage by Bonnie Haversat

I used to do quite a bit of painting myself and have to say I think these are wonderful representations of the vegetable.

Now - down to business.  As the vegetable garden is winding down the only crops, besides leeks and parsnips, are the brassicas.  I have planted plenty to see me through the winter - Savoy cabbage, January King, Scarlet Kale, Cavolo Nero Kale (if you look at the first illustration - top right, you will see it is called Dinosaur Kale), and Purple Sprouting Broccoli.  I have also just planted out Cauliflower and Spring Cabbage. I have to say that I love my greens.  I know it isn't the same for everyone, children in particular, and although I love the summer crops - beans etc.   In my book you just can't beat a good cabbage.



Savoy cabbage

 The original family name of brassicas was Cruciferae, which derived from the flower petal pattern thought by medieval Europeans to resemble a crucifix. The word brassica derives from bresic, a Celtic word for cabbage. The late Middle English word cabbage derives from the word caboche, meaning "head", from the Picard dialect of Old French. This in turn is a variant of the Old French caboce.

Scarlet Kale

Although cabbage has an extensive history, it is difficult to trace its exact roots owing to the many varieties of leafy greens classified as "brassicas". The wild ancestor of cabbage was originally found in Britain and continental Europe.  Nonheading cabbages and kale were probably the first to be domesticated, sometime before 1000 BC, and the Greeks and Romans had some variety of cabbage, although whether it was more closely related to today's cabbage or to one of the other Brassica crops is unknown.

Purple Sprouting Broccoli

During the 16th century, German gardeners developed the savoy cabbage.During the 17th and 18th centuries, cabbage was a food staple in such countries as Germany, England and Russia, and pickled cabbage was frequently seen.Saurkraut was used by Dutch sailors to prevent scurvy during long ship voyages.Jacques Cartier first brought cabbage to the Americas in 1541–42, and it was probably planted in what is now the United States by the early colonists, despite the lack of written evidence of its existence there until the mid-17th century. By the 18th century, it was commonly planted by both colonists and native American Indians.Cabbage seeds traveled to Australia in 1788 with the First Fleet, and were planted the same year on Norfolk Island. It became a favorite vegetable of Australians by the 1830s and was frequently seen at the Sydney Markets.

Cavolo Nero (Black) Kale

Most of the winter preparations have been completed - there is still a bit more to do but there is no hurry - plenty of time to get on with the mulching and spreading of manure.

The plot on Sunday - a foggy morning